NEW DELHI: People’s Union for Democratic Rights (PUDR) condemns the turn of events at Silanger village in Sukma district of Chhattisgarh over the past two weeks.
On 12 May, a CRPF camp was set up at the Silanger village despite protests by the residents of nearby villages. On 17 May, the CRPF fired at protestors, killing three, including a minor, and injuring many others. Eight villagers were arrested. Amid continuing protests, there has been a promise of an inquiry by an executive magistrate ordered by the District Collector.
The details of this sequence of the happenings, as reported in the press, are as under:
1. A complaint signed by 64 villagers, including four sarpanches, has claimed that the CRPF camp has been set up against the wishes of the residents of the region. It claims that a “farzi” (fake) gram sabha and force and threats have been used to obtain “consent”. Villagers fear that a permanent camp would become a source of regular harassment of the residents and interference with their social pr